Celtics Outlast Scrappy Magic in Overtime

Monday

Nov 26, 2012 at 1:43 AM

By KYLE HIGHTOWER THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

ORLANDO | Kevin Garnett had 24 points and 10 rebounds, Paul Pierce added 23 points and Rajon Rondo was one rebound shy of a triple double with 15 points and 16 assists as the Boston Celtics outlasted the Orlando Magic 116-110 in overtime Sunday night. The Celtics won their second straight and earned their sixth consecutive win over the Magic. Boston returns home Wednesday for a pair of home games, beginning with Brooklyn on Wednesday. J.J. Redick scored 21 and Jameer Nelson had 20 for the Magic, whose loss snapped a two-game win streak. Orlando led by as many as seven in the fourth quarter, but had 19 turnovers. It was the seventh straight game in which the Magic have had at least 15 turnovers. The Magic host San Antonio on Wednesday. After some early back-and-forth, the Celtics broke the overtime stalemate and took a 113-108 lead on a 3-pointer by Pierce, and layup by Rondo with 1:37 left. Nelson scored on a driving layup to trim it to three and the Magic got the ball back after Rondo came up with air on a 21-footer as the shot clock wound down. But Nelson fired up an off balance 3 on Orlando's ensuing touch, and following a foul, Garnett connected 1 of 2 free throws on the other end to make it 114-110 to lock up the victory. It was a disappointing finish for what was a masterful second half by Nelson in which he carried the Magic nearly single-handedly with 17 points in the final two quarters and overtime. Nelson scored the Magic's final eight points of the third quarter, including a fade away jumper to end the period giving the Magic a two-point edge entering the fourth. The lead grew as big as seven on a 3-pointer by Arron Afflalo with just over eight minutes remaining. The Celtics weren't deterred, though, and immediately went in a 10-2 run to take the lead back at 98-97. Redick tied it again at 100 with a 3-pointer, but couldn't connect on a lob to Afflalo after chasing down a loose ball. The Celtics returned the favor with a turnover of their own, leading to a driving layup by Glen Davis. Boston quickly tied it again, and collected a rebound on its next possession after a missed jumper by Nelson with 30.4 left. After a Celtics' timeout, Garnett missed an open jumper just inside the free throw line, but the ball caromed off a Magic player giving them another chance. But Pierce missed a leaning jumper at the buzzer to send it to overtime. The Celtics scored 13 points off nine Magic turnovers in the first half and led by as many as 12. When Orlando wasn't giving Boston easy baskets in transition, Rondo was facilitating for his teammates in the half court. He dished out nine assists to go along with 10 points in the half, missing only two of his seven shots from the field. For the half, the Celtics also had a 30-16 scoring advantage in the paint.